Which version of Live has stem separation?

Ableton says Stem Separation is included in Ableton Live Suite from version 12.3. Ableton also offers a 30-day Live Suite trial that includes it.

Does Ableton's stem separation need the internet?

No. Ableton's manual says the model is optimized for local use, so stems are extracted inside Live without an internet connection or other tools.

How do I isolate just the vocals?

Turn on only the Vocals toggle and click Separate. When you separate a single part, Live creates one track with that stem instead of a Group Track.

Where are the stem files saved?

In the current project folder under Samples, Processed, Stems. The manual says they use the file type set in Live's Record, Warp & Launch Settings, a 44.1 kHz sample rate and the source's bit depth.

Can I separate only part of a song?

Yes. Make a time selection within a clip in Arrangement View, right-click the clip and choose Separate Stems for Time Selection. The clip is split at the selection's edges and only that part is separated.

Stem Separation in Ableton Live: Isolate Vocals and Drums

What Live's Stem Separation does

Ableton added Stem Separation to Live 12.3, and it is part of Live Suite. It splits any mono or stereo audio into four stems: Vocals, Drums, Bass and Others, where Others holds everything not detected as the first three. Ableton's manual says the deep learning model runs locally, so it works offline, and its product page says the algorithms come from Music AI, the company behind Moises.

Separate a song

Start the command. From the browser, right-click a song and choose Separate Stems to New Audio Tracks. For a clip already in your Set, right-click it in Session or Arrangement View and choose the same command, or use the Create menu.
Pick the parts. In the Separate Stems dialog, turn the Vocals, Drums, Bass and Others toggles on for the stems you want.
Choose a mode. High Speed separates everything in one pass and suits drafts; the manual notes it can still take several minutes on older computers. High Quality runs its own pass for vocals, drums and bass, which is slower but more accurate.
Click Separate. Playback stops while it works.

Each stem arrives as a clip on its own track inside a new Group Track, colored to match the toggles. The source clip is deactivated so you do not hear it twice; select it and press 0 to turn it back on.

Isolate or remove the vocals

Acapella. Turn on Vocals only. Live makes a single track with the vocal stem instead of a Group Track.
Instrumental. Turn on Drums, Bass and Others and tick Merge to Single Track. The three parts are combined into one stem, ready to sing over. Merging works for two or three parts, not one or all four.

Details that save time

Part of a song. Make a time selection inside an Arrangement clip, right-click and choose Separate Stems for Time Selection. Only that section is separated.
Clip markers matter. If you moved a clip's start and end markers, or looped a warped clip, only the audible or looped region is processed.
Effects and automation. Effects on the source track move to the Group Track instead of being printed into the stems. Track automation is copied to the Group Track, clip envelopes to each stem clip.
The files. Stems are saved in the project folder under Samples > Processed > Stems, at 44.1 kHz and the source's bit depth, in the file type chosen in Live's Record, Warp & Launch Settings.

Without Live Suite

Ableton lists Stem Separation as a Live Suite feature. Without Suite, StemVocal's stem splitter gives the same four parts, vocals, drums, bass and other, in a web browser, as WAV or MP3 files you can drag into any Live Set. For just the vocal, the acapella maker keeps only the voice. Two songs a day are free, with credits for more. The Logic Pro guide and the Audacity guide cover the other popular editors.

Sources

Checked September 30, 2026:

Ableton Reference Manual, Stem Separation.
Ableton, Stem Separation in Ableton Live 12.3.
Ableton blog, Live 12.3 is out now (November 25, 2025).

How to separate stems in Ableton Live